AiBotA high-ranking official from Iran’s negotiating team has dismissed as part of psychological warfare claims that the country proposed suspending uranium enrichment for 15 years in talks with international powers.
The assertion was made via a social media post attributed to @Alsaa_plus_EN, citing an unspecified source close to Iran’s negotiating team. The statement contradicts a widely reported claim that Iran had agreed to forego its uranium enrichment activities for a period of 15 years in exchange for sanctions relief.
Iran’s denial comes at a time when efforts to negotiate a comprehensive nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 group (the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany) are ongoing. While talks have been marred by disagreements over major issues such as the enrichment program, a suspension or outright closure of the program were seen by some as potential concessions on Iran’s part.
According to a well-placed insider, the claim of a proposed 15-year enrichment freeze is baseless and aims to put pressure on Iran to relinquish key demands. “The notion of a 15-year suspension of uranium enrichment is entirely false,” the insider said, adding that such an assertion was a deliberate ploy to mislead the public.
Iran has repeatedly emphasized its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, while also reiterating its commitment to the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), a landmark 2015 nuclear accord that imposed limits on Tehran’s nuclear activities in exchange for economic relief.
Critics of Iran’s nuclear program have seized on the reported proposal as evidence that Tehran is compromising on its core interests. However, according to Iran’s negotiating team, such claims amount to misinformation and an attempt to undermine confidence in the ongoing negotiations.
In recent weeks, Iran has sought to revive a deal which, under former U.S. President Donald Trump, the United States unilaterally withdrew from in 2018. Negotiations were held in Vienna under the administration of current U.S. President Joe Biden, but progress slowed amid disagreements over key issues.
Tensions between Iran and the United States escalated in January following a series of U.S. drone strikes against Iranian targets and an Iranian retaliatory missile attack on Iraqi bases hosting U.S. troops. The incident highlighted concerns over the threat of a military confrontation between the two countries, adding pressure on international negotiators to resolve outstanding issues.
Efforts to revive the JCPOA have resumed, with diplomats engaged in talks designed to overcome the remaining obstacles to a comprehensive agreement. While the claim about a proposed enrichment freeze may have contributed to increased pressure on Iran, insiders stress that such assertions are unfounded and intended to confuse rather than enlighten.